Toilet



1N0 Model.)

L. M. BIGGS.

TOILET APPLIANCE.

(Application filed Oct. 2, 1897.

Patented Aug. 30, I898..

3 ShaefsSheet I.

ami/1400 o as W No.,609,87 0. Patented Aug. 30, i898.

L. m. mass.

TOILET APPLIANCE.

(Application filed Oct. 2, 1397. (No Model.) 3 Shams-Sheet 2.

Witnesses I Q WW b? UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LESTER M. BIGGS, or AKRON, 01-110, ASSIGNOR T0 LESTER e. BIGGS, or

"SAME PLACE.

TOILET APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,870, dated August30, 1898. .dpplieatlon filed October 2, 1897. Serial ll'o- 653,877. (Nomodel.)

art to which it appertains to make and use the- SitlllG.

This invention relates to toilet appliances; and the object in view isto provide, in connection with a water-closet, mechanical means foroperating and using the toilet-paper, the same being designed to performthe operation heretofore done by hand.

The detailed objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed outin the course of the subjoined description.

The invention consists in certain novel featu res and details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims heretoappended;

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of awater-closet, showing the improved appliance mounted thereon. Fig. 2 isan enlarged sectional view of the apparatus, showing two positions ofthe hand and the actuating and cutting mechanism. Fig. 3 is a plan viewof the same. Fig. 4 is an end View of a rotary hand or wiper. Fig. '5 isa similar view showing the hand open to grasp the paper. Fig. 6 is alongitudinal section through the hand, showing the means for opening orspreading the'hand to grasp the paper. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic viewshowing the means for rotating the hand. Fig. 8 is a plan view of thecam-pieces, showing one end of one of the bars in side elevation and adiagram of the seat-opening in dotted lines.

Figs. 9 and 10 show end elevations of the cam-bars and cross-sections ofthe seat and different positions of the hand and the operating-shafttherefor, as hereinafter described.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

1 designates the bowl-of a water-closet, of any ordinary or preferredconstruction, 2 the seat, and 3 the usual lid.

In carrying out the present inventionan auxiliary lid or seat 4 isemployed, the same being interposed between the main seat 2 and the topof the bowl 1. This auxiliary seat is apertured to admit of theintroduction of the improved mechanism, and said mechanism 'ispreferably attached to the under side of the main seat 2. The improvedmechanism embodies, essentially, a roll of paper 5, which is mountedupon a shaft 6 and arranged in rear of the seat, the shaft 6 beingpreferably mounted in suitable pedestals sprocket-wheels 11, journaledupon shafts 12,

mounted in hangers 13, secured to the under sideof the main seat 2. Thechains 10 are connected at suitable intervals by means of cross-rods 14,and upon these rods is placed a rubber hand 15. structed of soft rubber,comprises a series of similar fingers 16, separated slightly from eachother, but arranged in parallel order and extending transversely to theline'of movement of the hand as a whole, and said fingers are connectedat their bases to a common base or sheet 17 of flexible material.

preferably rubber,so that said base may yield and conform to thecurvature of the chains as the latter pass around their respectivesprocket-wheels. one end to form a stationary paper gripping jaw 18,andarranged opposite and beneath said jaw when in its uppermost position isthe movable jaw 19 of an elbow-shaped gripping-lever 20. This leverisjournaled upon one of the rods 14 nearest the stationary jaw 18 ofthe-hand and is provided witha handle or "lever 21, the end of which(indicated at 22) is bent at substantially a right angle, so as to moveinto and out of engagement with a track or governor 23, preferablycomposed of wire and arranged intermediate the upper and lower portionsof the chains and also between the two chains. The fingers on theiroperative surfaces aresh'aped,

The hand, which is con- The base 17 is extended at a v I i 09,870

the hand upward in of the paper 25, thus -35 as shown in full lines inFig. 2, and starting Supposing the hand away from the jaw as indicatedat 2-1, to correspond approximately to the contour of the posteriorparts, and the paper (indicated at. 25) rests upon said fingers in themanner illustrated in Fig. 2 as the hand moves forward in the directionindicated by the arrow in said figure to perform its work.

Intermediate the paper-roll 5 and the shaft Sis a stationary cutter orledger-blade-26, arranged above the line of travel of the paperConnected to and carried by the shaft 8 is a revolving cutter 27, theouter operative edge of which is adapt-ed in each revolution of theshaft 8 to strike against the under side of the paper 25 and by forcingsaid paper against the stationary blade 26 to sever said paper just asthe hand moves forward. The shaft 8 is preferably provided at one endwith a crank-handle 28, by which motion may be imparted to the apparatushereinabove described.

In operation the crank-handle 28 is turned, thus imparting motion to thevarious parts of the mechanism, and upon'the rotation of the shaft 8 thechains carry the hand in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2.to be in itslower position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, asthe hand moves rearward the jaw 19 is rocked 18 and the paper falls Uponthe movement of rear of the shaft 8 the other and grip the edgeunreeling the same from Upon reaching its upper position,

between said jaws.

jaws close upon each the roll 5.

forward the hand draws the paper 25 taut, and at the same time the knifeor cutter 27 operates, in connection with the stationary 4o of meetingof said cutters.

carried forward until it comes 7 the person and performs its 4.5

ledger-blade 26, to sever the paper at the point Upon further rotationof the shaft 8 the hand 15 is now in contact with work in a manner thatwill be readily understood. The

. movement of the mechanism is continued tion first referred to.

until the hand 15 passes downward in front of, the shaft 12, whereuponthe hand 22 of the lever 21 is engaged by the track 23, thus opening thejaw 19 and releasing the soiled paper, which gravitates into the bowl,the hand 15 again moving rearward to the posi- In Figs. 4to 7,inclusive, I have shown a modified construction in which the hand 15 issomewhat cylindrical in form, or .shaped after the manner of agear-pinion with enlarged teeth. The modifiedhand (indicated at 28') isseen to'comprise a series of radiating substantially diametrical 'at30,so as to establish opposing jaws 31 for .fingers 29, and the entire handis composed of rubber, so as to afford the desired degree offlexibility. The hand is also divided on a line, as indicated grippingthe paper when the hand is closed.

The division 30 extends nearly but not quite through the hand,terminating at the point 32,

chain travels one way,

so as to leave a hinge. Extending through the center of the hand 30 is ashaft 33, provided intermediate its ends with a. feather or spline 34,having inclined opposite edges, as shown at 35. The bore of the hand iscorrespondingly recessed, as indicated at 36, so that when by anysuitable means the shaft 33 is reciprocated or shifted longitudinallythe feather 34 will ride out of the recess 36 and thereupon effectaspreading of the jaws 31 preparatoryto the grasping of thetoilet-paperbetween said jaws. The shaft 33 itself is rotated one or more times bymeans of a spider or series of arms 37, which are arranged at or nearone end of the shaft and which come in contact with a series ofstationary pins or projections 38,arranged at regular intervals andconnected to'the auxiliary scatboard 4. It is of course to be understoodthat this last-described form of hand may be used as a substitute forthat first described and as a substitute in case it may be found moreeffective or desirable in practice. In the use of the rotatable hand thepaper severed from the roll is of course of sufiicient length to extendentirely around the hand.

From the foregoing description it will be I seen that I have produced asimple and effective device operated mechanically for performing theoperation hitherto done by hand. It will of course be understood thatthe mechanism hereinabove described is susceptible of various changes inthe form, proportion, and minor details of construction, which mayaccordingly be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages ofthe invention.

It should be .understood that the flexible hand shown in Figs. 4, 5,-and6 is designed to be carried by shaft 33 on the flexible chains 10, thesame as and is supported said shaft and through which the spline 34projects. The said shaft is caused to move axially in one direction asit makes the turn the hand in Figs. 2 and 3,

on a sleeve which surrounds at the front, when it opens the jaws, asseen in Fig. 6, and axially back again in the opposite direction when itmakes the turn at the rear and paper has been engaged between the jaws,and said axial movement is caused by a wedge-shaped or equivalent cam ormeans, the opening cam beingshown as the right in Fig. 6, bearingagainst the end of the shaft. The cam.40 is the upper longitudinal cam,so called, acting on shaft as the and 41 is the-lower cam, acting onthesaid shaft as the chain travels the other way. These cams cause theshaft 34 to come out of recess 36, as in Figs. 6 and 10, below and openthe hand, and the cams change the position of shaft 33 to do this work.

Having thus described, the invention, what is claimed as new, anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent, is v 1. The combination with awater-closet, of a mechanical device for performing the work specified,and comprising a flexible traveling hand and a grip to engage paper withthe hand, substantially as described.

2. In an appliance for the purpose specified, the combination with aflexible hand having a series of flngers,and operating means thereforconstructed to carry the hand in'a circuit and means for gripping thepaper with the hand, substantially as described.

3. In an appliance for the purpose described, the combination with aflexible hand, of operatin g means therefor, a roll of paper, means forconnecting the paper with the hand, and means for severing anddelivering said paper, substantially as described.

4 In an appliance of the character specified, the combination with aflexible hand, of actuating means therefor, a paper-gripper carried bythe hand, aroll of paper, and a cutter for severing thepaper,substantially as described.

5. In an appliance of the character specified, a movable and flexiblehand, actuating means therefor, and a paper-gripper carried by the hand,in combination with a roll of paper, and a cutter for severing thepaper, substantially as described.

(3. In an appliance of the character specified, the combination of aflexible hand, of operating means therefor, a pivotedpaper-grippingdevice carried by said hand, and means for opening and closing saidgripping device at the proper points, substantially, as described.

7. In an appliance of the character specified, the combination withsuitable chains and sprocket-wheels, and operating means therefor, of aflexible hand carried by said chains, a paper-gripping device carried bysaid hand,

means for opening and closing said gripping device, a roll of paper, anda cutter arranged contiguous to said roll, substantially as described.

8. In an appliance of the character specified, the combination with aflexible hand and means for imparting motion thereto, of a roll ofpaper, and a rotary cutter operating at intervals upon said paper,substantially as described.

9. In an appliance of the character specified, the combination. with aset of continuous chains and operating means therefor, of a flexiblehand connected with and actuated by said chains, and a paper-grippingdevice carried by said hand, substantially as described.

10. In an appliance of the character de scribed, a flexible hand,composed of a series of fingers united to a common flexible base, and apaper-gripping device connected with said hand, substantially asdescribed.

11. In an appliance of the character specified, a flexible hand having aseries of flexible fingers and a common flexible base to which saidfingers are severally and collectively attached, in combination with anendless carrier for said hand, substantially as described.

12. In an appliance of the character described, a flexible hand,composed of a flexible base or sheet, and a series of flexible fingersconnected to said base and spaced apart and substantially as described.I

13. In an appliance of the character described, the combination withsuitable actuatingmechanism, of a flexiblehand, consisting of a numberof fingers collectively attached to a common base projected at one endbeyond the fingers to form a paper-gripping jaw, and a pivoted grippingdevice comsaid auxiliary seat, said mechanism c0mpris-,

ing a flexible hand and an endless carrier for the hand, substantiallyas described.

15. In an appliance substantially as described, the combination of .thewater-closet and the auxiliary lid thereon next to the water-closetbowl, an endless carrier supported on said lid having a series ofcross-pieces and a series of flexible fingers supported on saidcross-pieces, substantially as described.

16. The water-closet bowl and the auxiliary lid thereon, in combinationwith an endless carrier on said lid having chains at the sides of thelid, a hand having a series of flexible fingers secured midway betweenthe sides of said carrier, means to operate the carrier and meanstoengage a slip of paper with said hand, substantially as described.

17. The endless carrier having transverse pieces and a hand withflexible fingers supported midway on said pieces and gripping mechanismto engage a sheet of paper with said hand, in combination with means tooperate said carrier, a paper-roll support and means to sever the paper,substantially as described.

18. The combination of the water-closet bowl, the auxiliary lid thereon,an endless carrier on the rear portion of said lid and a flexible handon said carrier, a paper-roll supported on the rear of the closet, meansto draw the paper over said hand and grip the paper, and cutters tosever the paper between the roll and the hand, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

LESTER M. BTGGS. Witnesses:

BYRON BAIDER, '1 Lunar J onNsoN.

